Rangiora High School

Top 10 team members

Team members

Native Daughter

3,166 pts

(2,548 pages read)

Dawn Raid

By Pauline Vaeluaga Smith

5 stars

I haven't finished this book yet but it is compelling in a youthful sort of way. It's a great book for introducing the Dawn Raids as the subject is contextual until near the middle of the book where Sofia actually experiences something similar. Written in diary form, Sofia, a Samoan, logs her life as a 13 year old in 1970s New Zealand. Older adult readers will recognise icons, younger readers will definitely question them! The book is interspersed with humour which I think that junior readers will appreciate.
The Secret

By Lee Child and Andrew Child

3 stars

A book about power, greed and misguided revenge. As usual, Reacher stumbles into the crime but doesn't seem to have much influence in this instance. The story is an easy read if you are in the mood to read a thriller.
The Innocent Man

By John Grisham

5 stars

Grisham writes legal fiction thrillers but this is his first work of non-fiction. The story is fascinating as it plots the arrogance and the incompetence of the U.S legal system in the 1970s in the case of Robert Williamson and Dennis Fritz. The reader becomes incredulous that Williamson ends up on Death Row, Fritz is imprisoned for life, on fabricated evidence. It certainly reinforced my belief to question everything that I see in the media.
The Bone Tiki

By David Hair

5 stars

I'm not usually a reader of fantasy but I enjoyed the alternating plot where characters jump between present New Zealand and past Aotearoa. This is definitely a hero's journey. Mat becomes the unwitting kaitiaki of the Bone Tiki and the owner (Tohunga Makutu) wants it back. Wiri is the ancient warrior imprisoned in the tiki and Mat's quest will ensure that Wiri's spirit will return to the place of his ancestors. Along the way, Mat learns responsibility, trust and perseverance all the while learning to question what is in front of him. Young readers will see themselves in Mat as well as see unique snippets of colonial New Zealand.
Chaos and Flame

By Tessa Gratton and Justina Ireland

4 stars

A young adult fantasy with tropes of the besotted male hero (Talon) and the strong-willed female captive (Darling). The story is set in a fantasy world of warring but unique 'Houses' that can be likened to different cultures. There is the obvious romance, names of people and places mimic mythology (fitting perfectly with the genre) and most captivating is that each member of society has a magic boon that can be used to thwart a particular menace. I didn't think I would like this book but it was compelling reading.
Future Girl

By Asphyxia

4 stars

One needs time and maybe quiet when reading this book. It is a beautiful story written from the perspective of Piper, a 16 year old Deaf girl. It gives amazing insight into the nuances of being Deaf and of dealing with Deaf people. The story is beautifully written around the context of sustainability in future Australia. You might learn that lip-reading is challenging, translation is tiresome and that sign language is the best form of communicating with a Deaf person. Asphyxia herself is Deaf so the story is utterly believable and eye-opening. She insists that 'deaf' deserves a capital letter because they are members of a community or culture.
Long Way Down

By Jason Reynolds

5 stars

Written in poetry form, this story explores themes of revenge, depression and self-awareness as the protagonist meets his 'conscience' at each floor (of the elevator). Reynolds is an American author who wrote this specifically for American teens, but the messages, both overt and implied, can apply to anyone! It's a riveting text that should be read out loud.
Wars in the Whitecloud, Wairau, 1843

By M H McKinley

5 stars

Although some of the pages in the graphic novel are without words, the illustrations are a must to 'read'. The true story about the Wairau Affray is told in a fictional way through the eyes of childhood friends, a Māori warrior and a Pākehā colonist. The reader picks up on the little nuances between cultures and have 'aha' moments. For young readers, it is a great book to introduce the land wars. They study a small component and thus could easily understand the whole. Furthermore, the Historical Note at the back of the book, detail facts about "the first major conflict, Māori and Pākehā had ever faced".
Meariki, The Quest for Truth

By Helen Pearse-Otene

5 stars

I love that cultural narratives always have a hero. In this graphic novel Meariki, a slave and Pēhi, the arrogant son of a chief, journey together to find Pēhi's betrothed. Along the way, the antagonistic couple discover the effects of cruelty over the powerless. The growth they both experience leads them to their goal and finally, the Anti-hero gets his comeuppance!
Arohanui, Revenge of the Fey

By Helen Pearse-Otene

5 stars

Told through a Te Ao Māori lens, this story explores themes such as rich vs poor, advantage vs disadvantage, relatable to everyone. The fact that it's a graphic novel means that it will appeal to boys and lower level readers.
Frizzy

By Claribel A Ortega

4 stars

Great book for juniors as it has easy font and great illustrations. The message to youth is to acknowledge what is different about you, accept, then celebrate it!

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Rangiora High School

Top 10 team members

Katie

Elle

Anna

amylahey

BBS

RoseH

Thomas

Native Daughter

JuliaM

Rosie D

Native Daughter

Dawn Raid

The Secret

The Innocent Man

The Bone Tiki

Chaos and Flame

Future Girl

Long Way Down

Wars in the Whitecloud, Wairau, 1843

Meariki, The Quest for Truth

Arohanui, Revenge of the Fey

Frizzy

Rangiora High School

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